painters by a regal functionary. An 1848 document attributed the first mining concession in Aljustrel to the Spaniard Sebastião Gargamala, who did little with the claim, and lost the concession. It was later attributed to the Lusitanian Mining Company which, also, only functioned for two years. Two years later, the title was transferred to the Portuguese Companhia de Mineração Transtagana, which began an excavation on a grand scale for the next 15 years, introducing rail transport and mineral treatment in the process. Owing to a series of unfavourable conditions in the international market, the company went bankrupt and the concession was passed to the banking firm Fonseca, Santos & Vianna. The bank became affiliated with a Belgian firm, establishing the Société Anonyme Belge des Mines d’Aljustrel that reopened the mine in 1973. It continued to operate for the next few years, taking on new partners and assuming various designations. In June 1973, it was taken over by the company Pirites Alentejanas, SARL, with a major stake by national interests (50% by the State, 40% by CUF and a fixed 10% by Mines d’Aljustrel). With the nationalization program implemented by the democratic government in 1975, the State took over 90% of the company's capital assets, with the remaining 10% held by Belgian interests. Yet, in 1977, with discovery of the Neve-Corvo mine (worked by Somincor at the time) containing rich orebodies, lead to renewed exploration due to its economic potential. But, owing to the fall in the price of zinc/lead, beginning in October 2008 the production at the mine was suspended. As a result, the municipal authority pushed to nationalize the concessionaire. With closing of the mine at Aljustrel, the Neves-Corvo mine became the only mine in Portugal. References Notes Sources Mines in Portugal Lead mines Iberian Pyritic Belt Buildings and structures in Beja District Aljustrel Zinc mines in Portugal